Here are just a few photographs of one of my American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) visitors. A side view of an American red squirrel also referred to as pine squirrels, North American red squirrels, boomers and chickarees. A close-up of an American red squirrel in Maine during the winter. An American red squirrel a year-round […]
Nature & Wildlife
This category contains posts that are related to the nature and wildlife found where I live. I write about birds, insects, animals and the beauty in nature that surrounds me.
Animal Tracks in the Snow in Western Maine
A few of these tracks in the snow are from animals that have come into the property near the house, while other tracks are from deeper in the woods. We live close to several snowmobile trails as well and there are always fresh animal tracks to be seen in these areas. The following photographs were […]
A Hummingbird Moth Visiting Phlox Garden Plants in Western Maine
The hummingbird (Hemaris), is a frequent visitor in flower gardens. To the untrained eye, these insects are often mistakenly identified as hummingbirds (Trochilidae). This particular hummingbird moth was feeding on the nectar of the annual phlox plants (Polemoniaceae), in the gardens during September. A hummingbird moth drinking the nectar from pink phlox (Polemoniaceae) with its […]
Early Summer Groundhog Kits in Western Maine
For a couple of years now, we have had a groundhog take up residence under the shed in the backyard during the late spring and summer. This year would be quite different. One day, the groundhog was coming through the backyard from the front, but she wasn’t alone. She had babies with her and they […]
New England Butterflies
The following photographs are a collection of butterfly photographs that I took when I lived in Connecticut and a few I had taken here in Maine. In Connecticut, we had a few beautiful butterfly bushes (Buddleja) in the garden and these bushes would always attract a good amount of butterflies every year. It is much […]
A Draft Horse at an Equine Rescue in Western Maine
As the largest of the horse breeds, draft horses were bred for completing difficult tasks, such as plowing and other farm labor. Draft horses are tall, muscular and heavy-boned. There are several breeds with an array of characteristics, but all of these horses share a common trait as being gentle giants. These horses are not […]
White-tailed Deer in Florida
During our short stay in Florida, we had all sorts of critters come to visit the backyard. There were many species of wild birds as well as eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus). On a more interesting note, we spotted several species of snakes, the most fascinating being the black racer (Coluber constrictor priapus) and a couple […]
A Gopher Tortoise in Florida
While we were living in Florida, this gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) lived in one of the empty lots across the street. It would come over to our side of the street and eat the grass. As long as it lives in the lot across the street, it won’t be able to be built on. In […]